The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Peter Lifu relied on the Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025, verdict to declare former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, as the legitimate leader of the party.
The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately recognise the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as “the only valid authority to represent the Labour Party,” pending the party’s next national convention. The ruling followed a suit filed by Senator Usman, marked THC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025.
Justice Lifu noted that evidence before the court confirmed that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had already expired.
He dismissed Abure’s argument that the dispute was an internal party matter, describing the formation of the LP Caretaker Committee as “a necessity” arising from the Supreme Court’s earlier order.
The leadership tussle traces back to a National Executive Committee decision to remove Abure after internal conflicts. To address the leadership vacuum, the party constituted a 29-member caretaker committee, appointing Senator Usman as chairman.
This decision emerged from an expanded stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, hosted by Governor Alex Otti and chaired by Abure’s former ally and 2023 LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Abure, dissatisfied with his removal, had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to affirm his position. In an affidavit filed in support of his suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024), he claimed he was lawfully elected Acting National Chairman at a March 29, 2021 NEC meeting in Benin City, Edo State.
He added that a subsequent NEC meeting on April 18, 2023, in Asaba, Delta State, renewed tenures for state chairmen and made other necessary party adjustments.
He also highlighted that at the National Convention on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi, Anambra State, he was formally elected National Chairman and led the party to field candidates in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
Both the High Court and Court of Appeal had earlier upheld Abure’s claims and directed INEC to recognise him.
However, the Supreme Court ultimately dislodged him. In its lead judgment prepared by Justice Inyang Okoro, the apex court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Usman and Caretaker Committee Secretary Hon. Darlington Nwokocha.
It dismissed Abure’s cross-appeal and reminded political parties to follow their internal rules in appointing officials.
The court further enjoined party leaders whose tenures have expired to vacate their positions.
